Did Rivian’s New Spin-Off Brand Just Invent the Perfect Bike Helmet?

While the TM-B electric bike grabs headlines, Also’s Alpha Wave helmet might be the most significant leap forward in cycling technology.

White and black bicycle helmet with two vertical red LED lights on the back, worn by a person.

By Ben Bowers

Published October 22, 2025

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Updated October 24, 2025

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When Rivian spinoff Also unveiled its lineup of electric micromobility vehicles this week, the spotlight naturally fell on the TM-B electric bike with its bold design and innovative pedal-by-wire drivetrain.

But tucked within the announcement was something equally compelling: the Alpha Wave helmet, a piece of headgear that might represent the most forward-thinking product in Also’s entire debut collection.

Safety first

Black and white perforated helmet with detachable white panels and adjustable black straps. — Also says the big safety advantage revolves around four panels designed to release upon impact.

On the safety front, the heart of the Alpha Wave’s innovation is its so-called Release Layer System, or RLS.

The company claims it is a significant advancement in rotational impact protection and was developed in partnership with researchers at the University of Strasbourg.

The system revolves around four panels designed to release upon impact. While similar to other advanced helmet technologies, the company believes RLS offers a step-change improvement over traditional helmet construction.

Fit finesse

White and black modern helmet with ventilation holes and adjustable strap against a dark background. — Instead of fumbling with traditional strap adjusters, the helmet’s so-called HighBar system lets wearers flip down the arms and twist to tighten with one hand.

The fit of a helmet also directly affects its safety, not to mention comfort.

The Alpha Wave’s so-called HighBar system also offers interesting tweaks in this area. Instead of fumbling with traditional strap adjusters, wearers can flip two adjoined arms down under the chin and twist a dial to tighten with one hand.

Impressive tech

White bicycle helmet with two bright front LED lights worn by a person in a dark shirt. — While we’ve seen plenty of helmets equipped with lights and other tech, the Alpha Wave has everything but the kitchen sink, including built-in speakers, noise-canceling microphones and rear and forward-facing lights.

But where the Alpha Wave really distinguishes itself is in its seamless integration of technology.

Built-in speakers deliver what Also calls “crystalline sound quality,” with four wind-shielded speakers and two noise-canceling microphones that enable riders to listen to music, take calls and receive turn-by-turn navigation.

Person riding a white electric bike at night with a red rear light illuminated. — The helmet’s lighting system is supposed to sync with the bike’s own advance lighting system.

The audio system maintains transparency, keeping riders alert to their surroundings rather than isolated from them.

The helmet also features integrated LED lighting, with both forward-facing lights to illuminate your path and rear-facing LEDs that work in partnership with the TM-B bike’s lighting system to enhance visibility.

Pricing and availability

Black and gray helmet with two vertical red LED lights on the back. — We don’t know yet how much the helmet will cost, but we expect it to be expensive. It’s set to launch sometime next year.

While Also hasn’t yet announced specific pricing for the Alpha Wave helmet, reservations are now open on the company’s website for anticipated spring 2026 delivery.

Given the advanced technology packed into the Alpha Wave, including the RLS safety system, integrated audio, and lighting features, we don’t expect this helmet to be cheap.

Close-up of a black and gray helmet with "ALSO. TRANSCENDENT MOBILITY EST. 2025" text and a "HIGHBAR" adjustment knob. — “Transcendent mobility” can apply just as much to an e-bike helmet as it can to the bike itself.

And that’s before taking into account that it’s designed to integrate seamlessly with Also’s TM-B electric bike, which isn’t exactly cheap.

Pricing for the Performance and Launch Edition of the premium e-bike is already set at $4,500. However, the brand has shared that the base version will be “less than $4,000.”

We look forward to testing this out and learning more about the e-bike system as the official consumer rollout begins.

Black and gray smart bike helmet with integrated rear red light and adjustable ventilation holes.

Also Alpha Wave Bike Helmet

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About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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